Exodus 20:9 kjv

Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:

Exodus 20:9 nkjv

Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

Exodus 20:9 niv

Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

Exodus 20:9 esv

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,

Exodus 20:9 nlt

You have six days each week for your ordinary work,

Exodus 20 verses

Exodus 20 9 Meaning

Exodus 20:9 commands individuals to engage actively in work for six consecutive days. It is the positive injunction of the Fourth Commandment, emphasizing the necessity and dignity of labor as a prerequisite for and counterpoint to the Sabbath rest. This verse sets forth a divine rhythm for life, wherein diligence, productivity, and responsible stewardship of time and talent are mandated. It ensures that effort and purposeful activity precede the cessation of labor for the appointed day of rest.

Exodus 20 9 Context

Exodus 20:9 is the foundational positive command within the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue (Exod 20:8-11). It immediately precedes and contextualizes the instruction to remember and keep the Sabbath day holy. The commandments are given by God directly to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, shortly after their liberation from slavery in Egypt. This verse therefore sets a crucial rhythm for a liberated people—no longer perpetually oppressed by forced labor, nor left to idleness, but instructed in a divine pattern of purposeful work and commanded rest. This divine command contrasts sharply with the labor practices of surrounding pagan nations, where manual labor was often disdained or where endless toil prevailed. For Israel, diligent work for six days was part of God’s order for society and individual flourishing, mirroring His own creation pattern and ensuring preparation for a weekly communal and spiritual day of rest.

Exodus 20 9 Word analysis

• Six (שֵׁשֶׁת - She-shet): The precise numerical value, directly echoing God's own pattern of creating the world in six days (Gen 1). It sets a definite period for activity and provides a foundational rhythm for human life and weekly structure.
• days (יָמִים - ya-mim): Refers to a full 24-hour period. It specifies the duration, reinforcing the concrete and practical nature of the command, tying human activity to natural temporal cycles established by God.
• shalt thou labour (תַּעֲבֹד - ta-a-vod): Derived from avad (עָבַד), a robust verb meaning "to work, labor, serve, cultivate, worship." This word dignifies labor, associating it with purposeful action and even a form of service. It emphasizes active, diligent effort, showing that work is not merely a post-Fall curse but a God-ordained human activity that requires engagement.
• and do (וְעָשִׂיתָ - v'a-si-ta): From asah (עָשָׂה), meaning "to do, make, accomplish, perform." This verb reinforces the imperative of practical, productive engagement and implies thoroughness in carrying out tasks. It adds to avad, indicating the completion or effective execution of work.
• all (כָּל־ - kol): Denotes completeness and totality. It signifies that diligence should apply to every task within one's assigned sphere of responsibility during the workweek. There should be no laziness or half-hearted effort.
• thy work (מְלָאכְתֶּךָ - m'lach-te-cha): From m'lakha (מְלָאכָה), which refers to one's craft, business, occupation, or productive activity. This is not just random activity, but one's designated profession or responsible contribution to the household or community. It highlights the purposeful and often skillful nature of the labor expected.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Six days shalt thou labour: This phrase clearly establishes the divine rhythm of work that precedes the rest. It is a positive command to be active and productive for the majority of the week. This instruction combats both perpetual idleness and relentless toil without an end in sight. It defines a structured and orderly approach to human endeavor, mirroring God's own creative pattern.
• and do all thy work: This part of the verse specifies the qualitative aspect of the labor. It emphasizes thoroughness and diligence in completing all assigned or necessary tasks. "All thy work" implies full engagement in one's personal responsibilities and professional duties, preventing negligence or partial effort, and suggesting the finite scope of one's obligations during the designated work period.

Exodus 20 9 Bonus section

• God-Honoring Work: The command to labor for six days implies that work, when performed diligently and within God's moral framework, is itself a form of obedience and worship. It’s an opportunity to bear God's image as co-creators and stewards.
• Redemption of Labor: Before the Fall, Adam worked in the Garden (Gen 2:15). After the Fall, labor became toilsome (Gen 3:17-19). This commandment, by integrating work into a divine law and cycle of rest, subtly points to the redemption of labor from mere drudgery to a purposeful and dignified activity within a covenant relationship.
• Preventing Exploitation: By mandating a six-day work week followed by rest, this verse inherently sets a limit on human exploitation. No master or employer could demand perpetual labor, thus establishing a foundational right to a work-life rhythm for all, including servants (Exod 20:10).
• Basis for Provision: Diligent work is explicitly connected in Scripture to provision and prosperity (e.g., Proverbs), signifying that God often uses human labor as the primary means by which individuals and families meet their needs.

Exodus 20 9 Commentary

Exodus 20:9 is the vital positive directive of the Sabbath commandment, making clear that God commands work as much as He commands rest. Far from being a mere precursor to Sabbath observance, the six days of labor are essential to God's created order and human flourishing. This instruction dignifies all honest toil, lifting it above the common ancient Near Eastern contempt for manual labor and establishing a godly rhythm of life. It implies responsible stewardship of time and talents, combating idleness and promoting productivity within a structured week. The work commanded is to be diligently pursued and fully accomplished, laying a foundation for an ordered society and individual prosperity, and creating the necessary conditions for true rest.